He forgives all your sins and heals all your diseases… As far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us.

Psalm 103:3,12

The tight crowd made it impossible to get even to the doorway of where Jesus was teaching. The men had to think of another way to get their friend before Jesus.  According to the stories heard all over the region, He would be able to heal him. The roof! They made an opening in it and lowered their paralyzed friend in front of Jesus. Seeing their faith, Jesus said, “Son, your sins are forgiven.”

This week we are praising the Lord for all the benefits listed in Psalm 103. The fact that God forgives all our sins and heals all our diseases is the first reason the Psalmist gives us for praising Him. According to the Hebrew translation, diseases in verse 3 refers to spiritual diseases.

In our story today, Jesus told the paralyzed man that his sins were forgiven. I’m pretty sure that isn’t why he went, but Jesus knew his needs. He needed both physical and spiritual healing, and in these two passages, diseases and sin mean the same thing.

When our sins are forgiven, our human nature tendencies and sickness of the soul are healed in the process. Through redemption, we become very different than when we are first saved by God’s grace. 

When God forgives, He removes our sin entirely. Verse 12 illustrates this for us, as far as the east is from the west. Have you stopped to think just how far that is? It is infinite. If you travel in an eastward direction, you will never hit a spot where you begin going west. They never touch. This means the sin for which we have been forgiven can never hinder our relationship with God.

When His pardoning takes place, mercy releases us from experiencing eternal condemnation and removes the barrier that prevents us from receiving the good things from God. 

So, my sister, praise His Name!

Johna Clemons